Singaporeans wanting to advance their careers might feel that they cannot afford to have a child, as it would halt career progression.

Is a lifetime commitment

Kids are absolute angels at the best of times. But you’re not going to find many young people in agreement — those who already think that kids are worth having will have them ASAP.

The problem is that there aren’t enough of these people.

In light of that, perhaps we should speed up that cloning research.

We know why, so how now?

Maybe we should get to the root of the problem instead. Social engineering in the 80s was what made Singaporeans have less children, but the situation has changed since.

Now there is a highly educated work force that does not want to have kids, and for good reasons.

The emphasis might have to be shifted away from a ‘career first’ focus if birth rates are to go back up. If members of our society can be convinced that raising a family is worth the effort, as compared to single-minded career progression, perhaps we can reverse the trend.

But until then, we will remain unsurprised that birth rates are going down. It’s become the status quo.